Bottle filling and crowning machine



H. M. Ross 1,874,353

BOTTLE FILLING AND-CROWNING MACHINE Aug. 30, 1932.

Filed June 11. 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR B'Y; t

ATTORNEY;

Au 30, 1932. H. M. oss 3 I BOTTLE FILLING AND CROWNING MACHINE FiledJune 11'. 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 i INVENTOR MT r4 TTORNEY Aug. 30, 1932.oss 1,874,353

BOTTLE FILLING AND CROWNING MACHINE Filled June 11, 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet'5 INVENTOR TTORNE S g- 30, 1932- H. M. ROSS BOTTLE FILLING AND GROWNINGMACHINE Fi led June 11, 1929 10 sheets-sheet 4 0, 1932. H. M. ROSSBOTTLE FILLING AND GROWNING MACHINE Fi led June 11, 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet5 v 00 I 1 z. 111 w w 00 w NVENTOR WM fm BYE ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 30, 1932. M s 1,873,353

BOTTLE FILLING AND CROWNING MACHINE Filed June 11, 1929 10 Sheets-Sheetea null 4 III/11116117);Jihihuiuih I1 III/[IllvI,III/Iii?Ilia/1,1,11,11,11

ATTORNEY Aug. 30, 1932.

H. M. ROSS BOTTLE FILLING AND CROW NING MACHINE Filed June 11, 1929 10Sheeiis-Sheet '7 ATTORNEYS Aug. 30, 1932. H oss BOTTLE FILLING ANDCROWNING MACHINE Filed June 11, 1929 1O Sheets-Sheet 8 WW Y Z dz n wATTORNEY Aug. 30, 1932. Ross 1,874,353

BOTTLE FILLING AND CROWNING MACHINE Filled June 11. 1929 10 sheets-sheet9 TTORNEY H. M. ROSS BOTTLE FILLING AND CROWNING MACHINE Filed June 111929 7 1o Sheets-Sheet 1o IINVENTO BY W ' ORNE ATT Patented Aug. 30,1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HUGH M. ROSS, OF RICHMOND HILL, NEWYORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T CROWN COR-K & SEAL COMPANY,INC., 01: BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORA- TION OF NEW YORK BOTTLEFILLING AND CROWNING MACHINE Application filed June 11,

My invention relates to bottle filling and crowning machines. Theprincipal object 01' the invention is to provide an automatic machine ofthat character which is simple in construction and operation. Anotherobject of the invention is to provide improved means for controlling thedelivery of the liquid or other material with which the containers areto be filled, and for preventing M such delivery when there is nocontainer in position to receive the material.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means forpreventing the delivery of a closure to a position above the containerand in operative relation to the closure aflixing means when there is nocontainer in position to have a closure affixed thereto.

Other objects, features and advantages m will appear more fully in thefollowing detailed description and appended claims.

The accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specificationillustrate one embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a left side view of a machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the same machine.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the 39 lines 3-3 of Fig. 1.

' Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially on the lines 4% of Fig. 3showing the apparatus for controlling the feeding of water to a bottle,such apparatus being in normal opcrating position at the beginning of astroke.

Fig. 4A is a fragmentary view of a portion of the mechanism illustratedin Fig. 4 showing the position of the mechanism when there is no bottlein place to be filled.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of the same mechanism in a succeedingposition in operation.

Fig. 5-A is a section similar to Fig. 4A showing the action of mechanismin Fig. 5

in the absence of a bottle to he filled.

Fig. 6 is a view of the same mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and 5 at afurther step in the cycle of operation.

. Fig.-6-A is a fragmentary view of a portion of the apparatus for thesame position 1929. Serial No. 370,088.

in the cycle in the absence of a bottle to be filled.

Fig. 7 shows the same mechanism in a still furthed step in the cycle ofoperation.

F 1g. 7A shows a fragmentary part of the same apparatus in the absenceof a bottle to be filled in the same step in the cycle.

Fig. 8 shows the same mechanism in the completion of one-half of itscycle.

Fig. 8-A. is a representation of a fragmentary part of the sameapparatus in the absence of a bottle to be filled in the same step inthe cycle.

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the lines 9-9 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 10 is an illustration of a fragmentary part of the apparatus shownin Fig. 9 in a different step in the operation thereof.

Fig. 11 illustrates the mechanism shown in Fig. 10 in a differentposition.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged perspective of a part of the mechanismillustrated in Figs. 9, 10 and 11.

Fig. 13 shows a portion of the parts illustrated in Fig. 12 in enlargedand dismantled condition; and

Fig. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the pieces ofapparatus used in the machine.

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view, illus- I tratin'g the syrupdispensing means.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of certain parts of the mechanism foropening the water valve of the machine.

Referring now to the drawings, 10 indicates the base of the machineadapted to sup port the mechanism for filling and/capping bottles.Extending outwardly from the front of the base 10 is a supporting member11 which serves'as a turret for supporting bottle conveying mechanism 12which moves the bottles into and out of position to be filled withsyrup, then with water and finally capped. The conveyor 12 is preferablyconstructed and operated the same as the conveyor shown and described inUnited States Letters Patent Reissue 14,657 to Calleson, to whichreference is made for the details of its construction and operation.Briefly stated, it is made up of a number of bottle receiving pocketsmovable in a horizontal plane. In each of the two sldes of the framemember 10 a substantial distance above the bottle thereof are doors 15closed by springs 16 which doors serve to permit access to the interiorof the frame member and the mechanism contained therein. Pivoted atsubstantially the same axis as the doors are wing plates 17 forenclosing the syruping and water filling stations.

Near the top of the machine is mounted a hopper 18 for caps or othersuitable closures, which caps may be fed by selective mechanism 19 intoa chute 20 which leads then into position for attachment to the tops offilled bottles. The mechanism 19 is power operated through the agency ofa belt drive 21 passing around a series of pulleys in the usual manner(see Re. 14,657).

Mounted on one side of the machine is a syrup measuring device 22composed (as shown in Fig. 1) of a pair of cylinders 23, a selectivevalve 24, an inlet conduit 25 connected with a source of supply and anoutlet conduit 26. This measuring device forms no part of the presentinvention, being the subject of my co-pending application Ser. No.665,261, filed Sept. 28, 1923. The outlet conduit 26 leads directly intoa syru ing head 27 which is vertically reciprocate by mechanism to bedescribed more fully hereinafter in connection with Fig. 15. The end ofthe syruping head 27 is of such shape as to fit around the neck of abottle to prevent leakage of any of the syrup therearound.

For controlling the operation of the water valve and the delivery ofclosures to a posltion above the contalners and in operative relation tothe closure aflixing means, the syru ing means 27 is provided with anupwar ly extending rod 28 (Figs. 1, 9 and 10) from which extends aprojection 29 which in certain positions engages a roller 30 connectedto a bell crank 31 secured to a shaft 32 to which is also secured asimilar bell crank 33 having mounted thereon roller 34. Roller 34 restsagainst the end of a horizontally movable control bar 35 which isnormally held in contact with the roller 34 by means of plunger 36pressed towards bar 35 by a spring (not shown). From this it will beseen that should the rod 28 with projection 29 be depressed sufiicicntto cause movement of crank 31, this movement will be transmitted throughcrank 33 and roller 34 to move the control bar 35 in a horizontaldirection. This movement of bar 35 is, as shown, defined by means ofslots 37 through 65 turret can be adjusted to cause correct enwhichextend bolts having nuts 38 on the ends gagement of head 27 with thebottle by means of the vertical adjusting member comprisin screw rod 40(Fig. 2) which may be rotate by means of a handle 41.

Adjacent to the syruping station is the station wherein plain water orcarbonated water may be supplied to the bottle and the bottle capped. nFi s. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 the water filling head an capping head is shownin section in different ositions in its cycle of operation. It is to eunderstood, however, that the head does not remain in any one of thesepositions, since its movement is continuous and these views are merelyto illustrate positions in its cycle of movement. In Fig. 4 the head insection is shown in its position directly after a bottle is moved by theconveyor mechanism 12 into position to be filled and capped. In thisposition the entire head is raised relative to the top of the bottle bymeans of a member 42 having a ball sha, d end fitting in a socket in ablock 43 slida 1e horizontally towards and away from the vertical axisof head 44 in a recess provided for the same in the head 44. Member 42is affixed to a bell crank 45 which is pivoted about the shaft 46 andhas a roller 47 at the end opposite from the member 42. Carried at thetop of crank 45 is a shaft 49 having rotatably mounted thereon a camroller 50. Roller 47 rests against and is moved by means of a cam 51mounted upon a main drive shaft 52 supported in bearings (Fig. 3). Thecam 51 is provided with a shoulder 51' which when contacting with roller47 serves to depress the same and in turn to elevate the member 42 andthe head 44. Secured upon the same shaft 52 is a cam 53 which engagesthe roller 50 and which is provided with a shoulder in the shape ofsubstantially a point 54 which serves when it contacts with the roller50 to de ress the end of crank 45 next the ball 43 and t ereby todepress the head 44.

Power to rotate the main drive shaft 52 is supplied from a source ofpower such as a motor (not illustrated) having a drive pulley 56(Fig. 1) transmitting power to a pulley 57 by means of belt 58. Thispulley 57 is so arranged as to permit rotation to be imparted from it toa shaft 59 (Fig. 3) through a clutch member 60 which may be controlledby means of a handle 62 which extends around into position to be graspedby an operator. To the shaft 59 is afiixed a worm (not shown) in meshwith a worm gear 63 keyed upon shaft 52. It will be seen from this thatwhen the clutch 60 is operated by handle 62 and power is supplied toshaft 59, the shaft 52 will be rotated to cause rotation of the cams 51and 53.

' Mounted upon shaft 52 is a cylindrical cam 64 having a guide way 263cut in its face. This guideway serves to vary the position of a camroller 65 on an arm 66 secured to the shaft 67which has keyed theretoarms 68 and a second arm 69 provided with ears 70. The arms 68 areprovided at the extremity thereof with a rail 71 which extendsvertically in contact with a roller 72 so that when the arms 68 aremoved by means of the barrel cam 64 the rail 71 will press the roller 72forwardly; and as the roller 72 is carried by the outer end of an arm73'(Fig. 5) pivoted at 74, this movement will cause the outer end of thearm 73 to be depressed.

For effecting a seal between the gaskets 97 (Fig. 1) and the bottlemouth, the ears (Fig. 3) of arm 69 are ada ted to contact with a member75 which mem er is secured to barrel springs 76 by means of member 77secured to one of the springs and member 78 secured to the other, thesemembers 77 and 78 being connected by link 79. The barrel springs 76serve to compress or release a rubber or other resilient gasket member97 (Fig. 4) which in certain positions fits around the neck of thebottle to be filled with water to prevent leakage of the same. Themechanism connecting this member 97 with the barrel springs and thedetails of construction of the barrel springs forms no part of thisapplication, being described in Reissue Patent 14,- 657, issued June 10,1919.

The water filling head is composed of a frame member 44, previouslyreferred to,

fitting around a tubular member 80 (Fig. 4) which has at the upper endthereof a shoulder 81 and an extension 82 which extension 82 is bored topermit the introduction of the water charge from the source of supplythrough a nipple 83. Water from the source of supply passes through theconduit 86 (Fig. 2), the measuring device 87 and conduit 88 to thenipple 83. Within the tubular member 80 is a stem 89 the end of whichforms a valve seated u on valve seat 90 held in place by means 0 atubular nozzle member 91 which is secured to the end of tubular member80. Within the nozzle 91 is a spirally grooved member 92 which serves toimpart a whirling 'movement to liquid passing from tubular .member 80through nozzle 91 into a bottle. Secured to the lower end of framemember 44 is a crowning head 93 having cut at one side thereof anopening which serves as a shelf 94 upon which a cap 95 may be deliveredfrom chute 20. Slidable upon the end of crowning head member 93 is anannular mouth piece 96 which is connected with the barrel springs 76(Fig. 3) so as to be movable to vary the compression on gasket 97 andcause it to be squeezed into sealing relation to the bottle or released.

The filling and sealing head member 44 has vertical openings, asindicated at 98 (Fig. 4) so as to permit the shoulder 81 and theextension 82 of tubular member 80 to pass through the said member. Thelatter extends upwardly from the said openings, as indicated at 44a, ina tubular shape, forming a chamber through which the upper portion ofthe valve stem 89 passes, such chamber having therein a spring 99 whichserves to press the tubular filling member 80 downwardly until the parts81 and 82 seat upon the bottom walls 0 openings 98. The valve stem 89passes upwardly through the frame member 44a and through a hollow member100 to the top thereof, the valve stem terminating in a head 101 whichslides in a channel 102 secured in the part 105. The head 101 isnormally depressed by means of spring 103. As shown in the drawings, thepart 105 is also provided with a vertical openingin which slides a rod106, the enlarged upper end of which fits in a chamber 107 which acts inthe nature of. a dashpot for. a portion of the moving mechanism.

For opening the valve 89, the machine as shown comprises the followingmechanism: In a vertical opening in the part 105 slides the stem portion108 of member 109 which is normally forced upwardly by means of a spring110. Mounted within a horizontal groove in member 109 is a split frogmember 112 having a slanting under surface which engages a lever 113,115 pivoted at 114, the free end of which engages a knurled head 116upon the valve stem 89. The member 116 is preferably threaded upon stem89 so that it may be moved upwardly or downwardly on the stem for thepurpose of varying the degree of opening of the valve with respect tothe valve seat at the lower end thereof. The split frog member is shownin detail in Fig. 16. It comprises jaws 112 and 112 connected by thevertical pivot 112. A spring pressed member 117 slidable horizontally inmember 109 serves to normally keep the jaws of the frog in closedposition. Pivotally secured to a depending portion of member 109 is alink 119 having its lower end connected to a second link 120 by means ofa pin and slot arrangement (Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive), the arm 119 beingprovided with aslot 121 engaged by a pin 122 on arm 120. The arm 120 inturn is pivotally connected by member 123 to a hook mechanism 124pivoted at 125 to member 127 slidable on head member 4411 and vieldinglyheld against rotation by means of a spring 126 located above the pivot125. Located directly beneath a shoulder of the member 127 and securedthereto is a" piece" of wear resisting metal 128, against which a crankmember 129 pivoted about the axis 74 bears. This crank member 129 isrotated by the lever 73, upon movement thereof from roller 72. Firmlysecured or keyed to the shaft 74 is a dog member 130 having a lipfitting within a recess 131 out in the arm 119 so that upon depressionof the said dog member the link 119 and the frog 112 are also depressed.The member 130 is yieldably secured to the member 73 by a spring 73a(Fig. 9) having its ends secured respectively to a collar 736 secured.to the pivot 74 and to the hub of arm 73.

The hook mechanism 124 (Fig. 14) is part of the mechanism for liftingthe filling tube 80 to move the same out of obstructing position withrespect to a cap on shelf 94. It invided with a thickened portion formeeludes an inwardly directed hook 132. Extending laterally at the lowerend from the body of the member 124 are a pair of projections 133.provided with slanting upper surfaces 134, the function of which will beset forth hereinafter. Secured to the shoulder portion 81 of the tubularwater supplying member 80 is an elongated vertical extension 135 (Fig.4), the upper end of which is ro- 1n the shape of a hook 136 moreclearly shown in Fig. 12. As shown clearly in Fig. 12, the member 135 isslidable in a slot formed in a part of the sealing and filling head member 44a. Secured to the member 44a at approximately the point ofuppermost travel of sliding member 135 are a pair of shoulders 137having inclined under faces 138 conforming to the shape of the upperinclined surfaces 134 of the hook mechanism 124, as

clearly shown in Fig. 14, so asto cooperate therewith in disengaginghooks 132 and 136. For preventing engagement of the hooks 132 and 136when there is not a bottle to be filled and crowned, member 44a carriesa member 139 which is slidable vertically with respect to the member 44abut is normally movable with the same by reason of its frictionalengagement therewith. The member 139 has an upper portion cut away asindicated at 140 (Fig. 12) and a centrally disposed ortion a shortdistance below the top thereoi cut away, as shown at 141. The walls ofthis cut-away portion 141 are provided with teeth 142 to form a rack.Slidable within this extension 139 is a metallic bar 143 provided with arack portion 144 which normally enters into the opening 141. The upperend of extension 139 terminates in a pair of shoulder members 145 whichfunction to obstruct the hook member 124 and prevent engagement of thehook 132 with hook 136. Engaging the rack members 142 and 144 is apinion 146 mounted upon a shaft- 147 which is rotatable in the framemember 149 secured to head member 44a. (Fig. 3). The lower end of theextension 139 is provided with a depending portion 148.

The syrup dispensing device (Fig. 15) includes a tubular receiver 152having a nipple 153 connected with the flexible tube 26 leading from thesyrup pump. The receiver 152 is arranged to be reciprocated verticallyin a guide 154 of the frame, being suspended by a rod 155 having afriction strip connection 156 with the receiver and connected with thevertically movable head 44. Fitted over the lower end of the tubularreceiver 152 and movable vertically thereon is a funof the valve and isthen turned off laterallyand another port 165 which extends from theupper end of the valve and then provides openings at the side of thevalve short of its seat part. The valve includes a lower stem having anenlargement or head (which affords the seating part), but the stem ofthe lower valve has a reduced extension 166 penetrating the mouthpiece157 and leaving a shoulder 167 which normally stands-below the lower endof the tubular receiver part 152.

On the down stroke of the receiver, if no bottle is present, there willbe no delivery of syrup because valve 162 remains closed. If a bottle ispresent the descent of the mouthpiece is stopped thereby allowing thelower end of valve 162 to enter the bottle (to serve as a deliverynozzle), whereupon said valve is also stopped and becomes unseated at160 opon the further downward movement of the receiver. A predeterminedamount of syrup is now forced by the pump 22 through the receiver,around the valve head into the valve stem and then into the bottle.

The operation of the machine is substantially as follows. A bottle to befilled is first moved into the syruping station (Fig. 2), in whichposition the syruping head 27 is lowered by the usual mechanism andsyrup measured in the measuring device 22 permitted to flow into thebottle. When there is a bottle in the syruping station, the rod 28 onthe syruping head (see Figs. 1, 9 and 10) is elevated so that theshoulder 29 on the upper end thereof does not depress the roller 30. Dueto the spring plunger 36, the rod or bar 35 is accordingly left innormal position as illustrated in Fig. 9. After the syruping operationis completed, the bottle is moved by the conveyor mechanism forming apart of the turret 11 into position to be filled with water and capped,such position being shown in Fig. 4. At this time, the hook of themember 124 rests against the slidable bar 135 somewhat below the hookportion thereof 136. The rack members 142 and 144 are in substantiallythe position relative to pinion 146 as illustrated in Figs 9 and 12. Theshoulder 51 of roller cam 50 is engaged with the roller 47 therebyholding the frame member 44 in its uppermost position. In this position,the valve at the end of stem 89 is closed and a cap 95 is resting onshelf 94 ready to be inserted over the mouth of the bottle.

As the shaft 52 rotates, the shoulder 51' is moved out of engagementwith the roller 47 while the cam 53 causes the member 42 to force thefilling and capping head member 44 downwardly as shown in Fig. 5. Theaction of spring 99 causes the tubular filling member 80 to moveconcurrently with the member 44, which movement is translated into asimultaneous downward movement of the entire filling and capping headmechanism. In Fig. 5, the head is shown in osition somewhat lower thanFig. 4, but t is position is u not the lowermost position, but is merelone stage of a downward movement of such ead. It will be seen that theshelf 94 is no longer in alinement with the stationary cap chute 20, thenext succeeding cap 95 bein prevented from fallin from the chute bycatch or stop 159. n the position shown in Fig. 5, the head has moved anamount suflicient to permit the top of the bottle to enter the annularresilient gasket 97. 55 Fig. 6 illustrates the mechanism in position aseffected b a further movement of the main shaft 52. ue to cam levera65(Fig. 3) following the cam groove 263, the forked member 69, 70 is movedto strike the projection 75 releasing springs 76, which causes theresilient gasket 97 to be contracted around the neck of the bottle asshown in Fig. 6 and as more fully explained in United States LettersPatent Reissue 1 4,657. Likewise, movement of the shaft 67 caused bythis cam lever 65 moves the arms 68 with its vertical rail 71 whichstrikes the roller 72, moving it inwardly and downwardly about thepivotal axis 74 causing the dog 130 to force the arm 119 downwardly aslight amount. This movement of the arm 119 pulls the member 109downward, causing the split frog member 112 to rotate the arm 115 aboutaxis 114 due to the engagement of the frog and the arm 113. Thismovement of the arm 115 lifts the knurled nut 116 thereby elevating thevalve stem 89 an amount sufiicient to clear the valve seat at the bottomthereof. As soon as this valve seat is cleared by the valve, water,carbonated or plain, introduced from an outside source flows through thetubular member 80 around the stem 89 downwardly into and through thespiral agitator 92 and the cylinder 91 into the bottle, leakage beingprevented by means of the contracted ring 97. Furthermore, this movementof roller 72 has caused rotation of shaft 74 and arm 129, which latterin turn elevates the member 127 and the hook mechanism 124 an amountsuflicient to permit the hook 132 to engage with the corresponding hook136 attached to the sliding bar 135.

A later position of the parts in the cycle of operation is shown in Fig.7. Continued movement of the arm 68 and rail 71 (Fig. 3)

ivoted theretocauses further movement of roll 72 inwardly anddownwardly, thereby further rotating the shaft 74, which disengages thelip of dog 130 from recess 131, freeing the link arm-119, which is swungoutwardl to its maximum position by means of the s oulder 130 forming apart of dog 130. As soon as the link 119 is free, the spring 110 forcesthe member 109 upwardly. The-rotation of shaft 74 has also caused thearm 129 to elevate the member 127 and hook mechanism 124. This movementof the hook mechanism 124 elevates the sliding bar 135, which in turnraises the member 81 and tubular member an amount sufficient to closethe valve at the bottom of stem 89. Through tubular member 81, the member 105 carrying lever 113, 115 has been elevated so that the lever arm113 has sli ped over the front of frog 112 to a position a ove it. Theraising of tubular member 80'and cylindrical mouth 91 secured theretoclears t e shelf 94, permits cap 95 to be ushed into position above thebottle, as fully escribed in said Letters Patent Reissue No. 14,657. Alater step in" the c cle of o ration of the head is illustrated in Fig.8. he continued rotation of main shaft 52 has caused the shoulder-'54 ofcam 53 to depress the roller 50 and the arm 45, the roller 47 enteringinto a hollowed-out portion of cam 51 so as not to interfere with thismovement of the arm 45. This-downward movement of arm 45 forces the headmember 44 downwardly to cause the crimping of cap 95 about the top ofthe bottle by the sealing throat S which may be constructed as shown inUnited States Patent No. 1,078,607. Simultaneously, further rotation ofthe main shaft 52 has caused further movement of arms 68 and rail 71(Fig. 3) which moves the roll 72 inwardly and downwardly a still furtheramount, thereby impartin additional rotary movement to shaft 4. T isrotar movement is in turn communicated to t e arm 129, which, bearingagainst the bearing piece 128, raises the member 127 and hook mechanism124 still higher. As the hook mechanism 124 is elevated, the extensions133 (Fig. 14) at the bottom thereof come into contact with the shoulders138 (Fig. 12) which rotate the hook mechanism 124' about its axis 125upon the continued upward movement thereof thereby forcibly releasingand separating the hook members 132 and 136. It will be noted inconnection with Fig. 8 that, as the member 44 is pushed 120 downwardlyby arm 42, the filling tube 80 which normally follows movement of mem'ber 44 due to spring 99, is arrested in its movement by reason of the clindrical outlet 91 of the filling tube striking the cap on top of thebottle. The continued downward movement of member 44 imparts thenecessary power to cause crimping of the ca 95 about the neck of thebottle by the sea g throats. 1

The bottle having been filled and capped, continued rotation of mainshaft 52 moves the cams 51 and 53 into position to restore the head toits starting pointat the beginning of a cycle, as illustrated in Fig. 4.The barrel cam roller 65 in following the cam groove 263 (Fig. 3) movesthe arm 71 to permit the roller 72 to move outwardly and upwardly,releasing the upper pressure on member 127, thereby ermitting thismember and hook mechanlsm 124 pivoted theretoto descend to their normalposition. The remaining parts are also restored to the positionillustrated in Fig 4, the members 112' and 112 of the split frog 112separating by reason of the wedging action of the lower portion of lever113 to permit the said lever to pass below the split frog; and,

if a bottle has been in the syrupingstation while this operation hasbeen carried on, the

continued rotation of main shaft 52 will cause a repetition of the cycleof movement hereinbefore set forth.

If for any reason there should be a failure to move a bottle intoposition at the syruping station to be filled with syrup so that thereis 'an empty space in the conveyor at that polnt,

the usual mechanism for preventing flow of syrup from the head 27 isbrought into operation, and in addition thereto mechanism is energizedfor preventing the passage of water from the water-filling head and thepassage of a cap into position in the capping device in the nextsucceeding cycle when the said empty space in the conveyor is under thewater fillin and capping head.

Let it e assumed, then, that a bottle is not in position to be filledwith syrup. The syrup head 27 descends and, since no bottle is there toarrest its downward movement, it moves further than normally.- Suchmovement causes the shoulder 29 (Figs. 9 and fastened to rod 28 tostrike the roller 30, thereby causing roller 34 to move the bar 35against the normal pressure of spring plunger 36. It is to be noted byreference to the dotted lines in Fig. 9 (which shows the normaloperation of the machine) that movement downwardly of the member 139(Figs.

, 4 and 9 to 12) with head member 44 permits the extension 148 of themember 139 to enter the notch 35 in bar 35 while the end of rod 143comesto rest substantially upon the top of bar 35. When this bar is movedover as shown in Fig. '10, the bottle under the water filling andcapping head (which bottle is just ahead of the empty position in theconveyor under the syruping head) is filled and capped in the'usual way;but as the member 139 moves downwardly, the extension 148 strikes thetop of bar 35, arresting movement of the member 139. The frame member 44continues its downward movement filling and capping the bottle then inposition, however, carrying the pinion 146 along with it and, since therack 142 is stationary, this mQVG- water, the operation is substantiall'plained, but,

position through upward movement of the member 44 the shoulders145,-instead of lying "just below the extensions 133 of the hookmechanism 124 as shown in Fig. 9,will have moved to a position directlyin back of these members as shown in Fig. 11, thereby forcingand'holding the hook member 124 outwardly from its normal position. Thedifierence in the normal and abnormal positions is shown respectively inFigs. 4 and 4a.

In the absence of a bottle to be filled with as follows. Consider,first, Fig. 40;. he hook member 124 is held outwardly, away from normalposition as before explained, and link 120 consequently holds the arm119 outwardly an amount sufficient to avoid engagement of the lip of dog130 with the recess 131.

Consider next-the movement in the cycle to the position exemplified byFig. 5a. The entire mechanism of the'head has been moved downwardly bythe arm 42 in the same manner as before explained, but otherwise theparts shown in Fig. 5a occupy the same relative positions as shown inFig. 4--A. Further movement of the machine brings the parts to theposition shown in Fig. 6A. The roll 72 (Fig. 3) has beenmoved inwardlyand downwardly in the manner before exas the dog 130 is not engaged withthe bottom of the recess 131, arm 119 is not depressed and consequentlythe member 109 is not moved downwardly and the frog 112 remains inposition above the arm 113 without depressing the same, with the resultthat the valve stem 89 is not elevated and the water valve remainsclosed. Flow of water into the empty space below the water. filling headis accordingly avoided.

In the position of parts shown by Fig. 7A, after continued movement ofroll 72 inwardly and downwardly, the hook 132 is held out of engagementwith hook 136 by means of the shoulder members 145 so that the shoulder81 remains seated on member 44 and the filling tube 80 remains in itslower position with respect to the member 44, whereby the outlet portion91 of the filling tube obstructs the passage of a cap to a centralposition in the head above the gasket 97.

Fig. 8-A shows a later position of the mechanism in the absence of abottle to be filled, showing the contact of the members 148 and 143 withthe bar 35 after the point in the cycle where the crowning ordinarilytakes place. Should there be no bottle in the syruping position when thewater-filling and crowning head has reached this position, the b r 3. Wil maintain the position shown in in Fig. 11. During the movement to theposition shown in Fig. 8A, the extensions 143 and 148 have been moveddownwardly to the bar 35. The bar 35 being in its normal position, itwill be evident that the rack 143 will have struck the top of bar 35 soas to reverse the positions of racks 142 and 144 relative to pinion 146and thereby restoring these racks to their normal positions shown inFig. 9. This repositioning having been accomplished, the mechanism, uponreturn to its starting point of a cycle, will be in position in thefollowing cycle to operate again to permit the passage of water into thebottle andto cap the same in the manner described in connection withFigs. '4 to 8 inclusive.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the control of the water valveand of the cap obstructing tube 80 is set by the presence or absence ofa container at the syruping station in the cycle of the machine inadvance of that for which the control is set. In other Words, thecontrol is set when a given pocket in the conveyor is under the syrupinghead; and that setting determines whether the water valve is to open andthe tube 80 move out of obstructing position in the next cycle of themachine when the same pocket is under the water-filling head.

While I have shown one embodiment of my invention, it is to beunderstood that changes may be made Within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a container filling machine, the combination of containerconveying means, means for delivering a charge of syrup to a containerin said conveyor, means for delivering a charge of water to thecontainer at a later station of said conveying means, a valve for saidwater delivery means, means for opening said valve, and controllingmeans operable in the absence of a container in the conveyor at thesyruping station to revent delivery of syrup by said syrup elivery meansand to render said valve operating means inoperative in the followingcycle of the machine.

2. The combination of a container conveyor, means for applying a closureto a container in the conveyor at a predetermined station, means fordelivering a charge to the container including an obstructing memberarranged to prevent passage of a closure into position to be applied,means for moving said member out of obstructing position, and means forrendering said moving means inoperative in the absence of a container atan earller station in the conveyor.

3. The combination'of a container conveyor, means for applying a closureto a contamer in the conveyor at a predetermined station, means fordelivering a charge to the container including a tubular obstructingmember arranged to prevent passage of a closure into position to beapplied, means for moving said member out of obstructing position, andmeans for rendering said moving means inoperative in the absence of acontainer at an earlier station in the conveyor.

4. The combination of container conveyor, means for delivering a chargeat a given station to a container in said conveyor, means for deliveringanother charge to the contain er at a later station, means for applyinga closure to the container after the delivery thereto of the secondnamed charge, said second named delivery means being provided with anobstructing member arranged to prevent the passage of a closure intoposition to be applied to the container, means for moving said memberout of obstructing position, and means for rendering said moving meansinoperative in the following cycle in the absence of a container at thefirst named station. 5. The combination of container conveyor,

means for delivering a charge at a given station to a container in saidconveyor, means for delivering another charge to the container at alater station, means for applying a closure to the container after thedelivery thereto of the second named charge, said second named deliverymeans being provided with a tubular obstructing member arranged toprevent the passage of a closure into position to be applied to thecontainer, means for moving said member out of obstructing position, andmeans for rendering said moving means inoperative in the following cyclein the absence of a container at the first named station.

6. The combination of a container, means for delivering a charge andapplying a closure to a container in the conveyor at a predeterminedstation, said means being provided with a valve and an obstructingmember arranged to prevent passage of a closure into position to beapplied, means for opening said valve and for subsequently moving saidmember out of obstructing position, and means for rendering said lastnamed means-inoperative in the absence of a container at an earlierstation in the conveyor.

7. The combination of container conveyor, means for delivering a chargeat a given station to a container in said conveyor, means for deliveringanother charge to the container at a later station, a valve for saidlastnamed means, means for applying a closure be applied to thecontainer, means for ing said valve and for subsequently moving to thecontainer after the delivery thereto of the second named charge, saidsecond named delivery means being provided with an obstructing memberarranged to prevent the passage of a closure into position to be appliedto the container, means for open ng said valve and for subsequentlymoving said member out of obstructing posltion, and means for renderingsaid last-named means inoperative in the following cycle in the absenceof a container at the first-named station.

8. The combination of container conveyor, means for delivering a chargeof syrup at a given station to a container in said conveyor, means fordelivering a charge of water to the container at a later station, avalve for said last-named means, means for applying a closure to thecontainer after the delivery thereto of the second named charge, saidsecond named delivery means being provided with a tubular obstructingmember arranged to prevent the passage of a closure into position toopensaid member out of obstructing position, and means for rendering sad last named means inoperative in the .following cycle in the absence ofa container at the first named station.

9. The combination of means for deliver ing a charge to a container, avalve therefor, and means for moving said valve including coactingmembers, one of said members havin pivotally connected parts which aremovab e apart to permit one of the members to pass the other in onedirection.

10. The combination of means for delivering a charge to a container, avalve therefor, and means for moving said valve including a levercoacting with said valve, and a frog coacting with said lever and havingpivotally connected parts movable apart to permit said lever and saidfrog to pass each other in one direction, and means tending toyicldingly hold said parts together.

11. The combination of means for delivering a charge to a container, avalve therefor, means for operating said valve, and controlling meansfor rendering said valve operating means inoperative, said controllingmeans including a control bar, container actuated means for controllingthe position thereof, and a plurality of members coacting with said bar,said members being interconnected to move in opposite directions.

12. The combination of means for delivering a charge to a container, avalve therefor, means for operating said valve, and controlling meansfor rendering said valve operating means inoperative, said controllingmeans including a control bar, container actuated means for controllingthe position thereof, and a plurality of rack members coacting with saidbar, said members being interconnected to move in opposite directions.

ing position, and means for rendering said moving means inoperative,including a contamer controlled device and a plurality of racks coactingwith said device, said racks being interconnected to move in oppositedirections.

14. The combination of means for afiixing a closure to a container, amember for obstructing the passage of the closure into operativerelation to the container, means including a hook for moving said memberout of closure obstructing position, and means for holding said hook ininoperative position including a controlling device and rack mechanismcoacting with said device.

15. The combination of means for aflixing a closure to a container, amember for obstructing the passage of the closure into operativerelation to the container, means including a hook for moving said memberout of closure obstructing position, and means for holding said hook ininoperative position including a horizontall shiftable control member,container opera le means coacting with said control member to controlthe setting thereof, and rack mechanism operable by said control member.

16. The combination of means for delivering a charge to a container, avalve therefor, means for affixing a closure to the container, a memberfor obstructing the passage of the closure into operative relation tothe container during the delivery of the charge thereto operating meansfor opening said valve an subse uently moving said member out of closure0 structing position, and means for rendering said operating meansinoperative including a control member, container operable means forcontrolling the position thereof,

and rack mechanism operable by said control member.

17. The combination of means for delivering a charge to a container, avalve therefor, means for aifixing a closure to the container, a

member for obstructing the passage of the closure into operativerelation to the container during the delivery of the charge thereto,operating means for opening said valve and subsequently moving saidmember out of closure obstructing position, said operating meansincluding a lift hook and valve operating means connected with saidhook, and means for moving said hook to inoperative position andrendering said valve operating means inoperative.

. 18. The combination of means for delivermg a charge to a container, avalve therefor, means for aflixing a closure to the container, a memberfor obstructing the passage of the closure into operative relation tothe convalve and subsequently moving said member Sill tainer during thedelivery of the charge thereto, operating means for opening said out ofclosure obstructing position, said operating means including a liftmember and valve operating means including coacting power transmittingmembers one of which is connected with said lift member, and means formoving said lift member to inoperative position and rendering said valveoperating means inoperative.

l9.- The combination of means for delivering a charge to a container, avalve therefor,

' means for affixing a closure to the container,

a member for obstructing the passage of the closure into operativerelation to the container during the delivery of the charge thereto,operating means 'for opening said valve and subsequently moving saidmember out of closure obstructing osition, said operatnig meansincluding ook mechanism for lifting said obstructin member and valveoperating means including a dog and a power transmitting member coactingwith said dog and connected with said hook mechanism, and means forrendering said hook mechanism and said dog inoperative.

in testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specificatio HUGH M.ROSS.

